Week 1 Marathon Training: First Team Run

Saturday, April 20, 2013

My good friend Jenn (KITHKINCAID) did an amazing thing when she trained for the 2012 Chicago Marathon, she wrote a weekly blog that summarized her training runs, nutrition, everything. If you are also training to run a marathon, I HIGHLY recommend reading her blogs (which I intend to re-read throughout my training). The link to her first weekly blog is below:

I decided to also do a weekly blog for the next 26 weeks, however mine will not be so detailed, I am sure, but will serve as a way to keep myself accountable, and to also help anyone out along the way. I will post them on Saturdays, the days that my team meets to do our "long runs".

Today was the first team run, and we ran in honor of the victims and families of the Boston Marathon tragedy. We had special bibs to wear to show our solidarity.

It was a cold morning, only 32 degrees and ice on the windshield of my car, and frost on the ground. But the sun was out! And that's good, yesterday it was snowing, hailing and raining in Chicago. We went 30 min. this time (each week we will increase our mileage, and train throughout the week on our own), and my good friend Caitlin is running with me, and this is the first time she has ran since her surgery in January, so I took it easy with her, "easy" meaning 2 min. of running and 1 min. of walking intervals. This only slowed my pace down by 1 min. overall, and I am going to see how I like run/walking for the marathon, just as it may be easier on my body. I am going into this with no predetermination of how things "should" go, my #1 goal is simply to FINISH.

One woman on my team had a very difficult time running, she wants to lose 30 lb., and she feels very out of shape. At one point she stopped and said "I suck~!" out loud. I stopped running and put my hand on her shoulder and emphasized that she did NOT, in fact, suck. I motioned for Caitlin to go ahead as I wanted to encourage this woman as I clearly remember how it felt to be the last one in a pack of runners, and someone was kind enough to take me aside at that time, and I wanted to do the same. I told her how when I first started running I could only run 30 seconds at a time, and that once you continue to run, it gets easier. I do hope I encouraged her, and that I see her next week.

I am blessed to have a group of people to run with, and that we are all working toward the same cause, to bring water to those in need through Team World Vision. Everyone in the group is so nice, helpful, and willing to share their knowledge (most of the runners in this group run the Chicago Marathon every year).

Our team name is 121:Run. We are named this for the scripture in the bible, Hebrews 12:1.

This verse says:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
(New Living Translation)

Boy, does this verse apply to my life right now, and also the upcoming marathon. Let us run "with endurance". Let us "strip off every weight that slows us down, especially sin."

I'm sorry I have to miss most of the training runs because of work. I plan to take a few Saturdays so I can work with the team. Training alone is very difficult. I look forward to being able to run with you one of these Saturdays.I also love the team name. Hebrews 12:1-2 is my life verse, especially the "run with endurance" part. Even had it added to my Road ID!!Blessings!!

I love that you paid if foward. When I first started running I had the same thoughts and more then once said them outloud. Heck even now sometimes I let those thoughts in. Thankfully I have a great support group, family and other runners. When I see someone struggling like I use to, I try to also say something encouraging, because it was done for me. Thanks for the reminder to keep doing it.

How wonderful for you to pay it forward, I am sure she will be back and has been thinking about how kind you were to her all week!Congrats on training for the marathon, it is so awesome to have a team to train with, I have done a few with the Leukemia Society and would encourage anyone thinking of doing an endurance event to find a worthy cause and a team to train with, it is such a life changing experience! Run/walking is GREAT! I have done both the "just running:" and run walking and found recovery to be so much better with the run/walk and my time actually increased! I slowly worked up to a 9min run and 1 min walk and kept it up for the entire marathon, mentally it is great too when you know that minute of walking is coming up!Good Luck to you and your training and will be looking forward to your blogs and your progress!

I love what you did for that lady. I know what it's like to be last too. I hope she comes back and continues. I also love the scripture and how your team got its name. Sounds like its going to be an awesome experience to train with this group.

I look forward to reading your weekly blog as you take this journey. Also, thank you for taking time out of your day, your run, to encourage someone else having a hard time. What a blessing you are ... to yourself and to others.

This is so wonderful! I love the story that you were able to encourage that person. I remember once joining a running group and being way in the back, and no one encouraged me, and I stopped running with them. :( I'm glad you helped her. :) Cant' wait to see these weekly posts! That's great!

Awesome ....... It is great that you stopped and gave her a pep talk and explained how you were before also... I swear if it wasn't for the support of my hubby and on here , I would get no where. Keep up the great work